Hillary Clinton Moving Left on Economic Plan

Hillary Clinton is preparing to lay out an economic plan that seeks a center-left ideological course, rejecting ideas put forth by Republican presidential contenders but striking a contrast with her party’s liberal wing.

In an economic speech Monday, the Democratic presidential front-runner will focus on her differences with Republican rivals. She will accuse them of seeking growth without regard to whether the middle class thrives, and say that raising incomes for all Americans is “the defining economic challenge of our time,” a campaign aide said.

But the speech in New York City will also draw implicit contrasts with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who is mounting a strong challenge from the left for the nomination. He is focusing heavily on inequality, arguing that the economic pie should be divided more fairly and calling for taxes on the wealthy to pay for initiatives to aid the middle class.

Mrs. Clinton will put relatively more emphasis on the need to make the pie larger. Her economic policy advisers say she aims to walk a course between a focus on inequality and one on growth.

This balancing act reflects her broader approach to policy so far in her presidential quest. She is proving to be quite liberal in some areas—particularly social policy such as immigration, gay marriage and gun control—while centrist on other issues, including some economic ones.

To promote growth, Mrs. Clinton will urge tax cuts for small businesses and new government spending on infrastructure, the aide said. She also will propose ways to make it easier for women to succeed in the workplace, including support for child care and paid leave.

To address income inequality, Mrs. Clinton will call for raising the minimum wage, increasing taxes on the wealthy, boosting the power of unions and reducing health-care costs. She also is likely to propose some new rules governing Wall Street.